10 Homemade Window Cleaners & Streakless Glass Advice

Washing windows is a chore we all have to tackle and selecting an effective glass cleaner can make the job so much easier. We want something that lifts spots and splatters effortlessly but also provides sparkling, streak-free results.

There are plenty of commercial products that work great, but mixing together a homemade solution is so easy to do, why not try them…they cost just pennies a bottle!

All that’s needed are a few simple ingredients that you likely have around the house already. Not only are they typically much cheaper to make, they work just as well too!

Here’s a bunch of different recipes you can try along with a few tips listed at the bottom of this article to help achieve a crystal-clear, streak-free shine along with some troubleshooting tips for removing stubborn spots.

Which one’s the best? I think they’re all good but the first recipe (marked as #1), seems to have the most positive feedback from Tipnut readers.

If you’re looking for all-natural solutions as a substitute for harsh chemical/commercial products, you’ll find a few listed here too!

Note: Several of these homemade batches require liquid dish soap, I prefer the blue Dawn product but feel free to use your favorite. Several have left notes below that Joy is a good option too.

Homemade Recipes & Solutions

Heavy Dirt/Grime: If you are dealing with especially dirty windows, first take a hot, soapy sponge to them then rinse clear before proceeding as noted above.

Hard/Crusty Bits & Residue: Take a piece of paper towel and soak it in some regular household vinegar then apply it directly to the crusty bit. Leave it alone for awhile to give things a chance to absorb. You should be able to lift if off with a hard swipe of the moist towel. Then proceed to wash with one of the mixes below.

Directions: Mix the ingredients in a bucket, make sure cornstarch is thoroughly dissolved before applying.

#7

1 gal. water
1 C. vinegar
2 TBS cornstarch

Combine until cornstarch is thoroughly dissolved.

Quickies (#8 & #9):

Store these solutions in spray bottles: (they also work on mirrors)

One part vinegar added to four parts water

One cup cold strong black tea with 3 TBS of vinegar

#10 Lemon-Fresh VersionFirst Published May 3, 2010

Here’s a goody sent in by Amanda:

This recipe is for cleaning windows and glass that I’ve used for years, it brings a nice sparkle & shine so I love it! Only a few ingredients are needed:

3 TBS lemon juice (freshly squeezed)

2 cups club soda (you can use water too or a mix of water and club soda but I prefer 100% club soda)

1 tsp cornstarch

Pour everything into a spray bottle then shake well before using.

Thanks so much for sharing Amanda!

Another great suggestion: trees advises (comments area below) to skip mixing or buying cleaners altogether and try an old fashioned leather chamois that is pre-soaked in water (rinse and repeat a few times until it runs clear). Start at the corners and work down, drying with cotton toweling or microfiber cloth. Nancy replied that if you don’t have a leather chamois, a sponge will do the trick too. Nothing more all-natural or harsh-chemical free than that!

Tips For Best Success:

Be generous when applying homemade solutions, no need to be skimpy! This will help soften and loosen any hard bits or residue on the surface.

Spray with preferred recipe then wipe off with crumpled newspapers. The newsprint helps prevent smearing and stubborn, left-behind streaks. Depending on how many windows you’re washing, you’ll want a stack of paper at the ready since dry sheets work better than wet ones. Avoid sheets with color ink.

Drying with coffee filters also give great streak-free results (shared by Brenda in the comment section below). Another Tip: Save old cotton t-shirts (laundered without fabric softener), they also do a lovely job (shared by Hzlb).

Submitted by Diana: A black board chalk eraser brings out a nice shine.

Avoid washing windows when the sun is shining or weather is hot–the cleaning solution will dry too fast and there will be stripes left behind on the glass. Working in the early morning or on overcast, cloudy days are best.

Wash one side of the surface in an up and down motion (vertical), on the other side scrub side to side (horizontal). This will help determine which side has the streaks that require buffing out.

No matter your best effort, troublesome smears are still noticeable? Take a wet sponge, scrub all over the surface then dry again with a microfiber cloth. It could just be too much cleaner was left behind in the last wipe and just needed a better rinse.

For large/tall panes, squeegees come in handy but wipe the edge after each swipe to avoid drips. You’ll find some that retract/expand so they can reach tall panes easily.

Outdoors: Sweeping away all cobwebs and debris is essential before getting started. I’ve used a rag tied on the end of a broomstick or an extendable cobweb duster to get rid of all the gunk. Another option is to take the hose out and spray with some pressure to clear debris. If you skip this step, you’ll find muddy smears and pieces of dried leaves/cobwebs sticking on the glass in the most obvious places.

Troubleshooting – How To Remove:

Dried Paint Splatters: Saturate both glass and a razor blade with cleaner then take the edge of the blade to carefully dig under the dried splatter, trying to lift it up as it softens from the liquid. You can also boil some vinegar then soak a sponge into it and dab away at the dried paint, lifting it off completely. Might take some elbow grease, but this should provide results!

Hard Water Spots & Stains: Apply toothpaste all over and let sit for at least 10 minutes before washing away (regular Crest works terrific for this, though any non-gel does best). Some scrubbing effort will be required. Another option: Apply a paste of baking soda & water, allow to set for about 10 minutes then take a warm, damp sponge and wipe away carefully. Baking soda is a gentle abrasive and should not leave behind any scratches, but be careful with the pressure.

Calcium (& other Mineral) Buildup: Follow the directions noted at top of page for removing “Hard/Crusty Bits & Residue”. Depending on how bad the buildup is, you’ll want to leave this for 30 minutes or more.

Comments

V very old way of cleaning windows is using the above solution with news paper, use a cloth to wash them then dry the windows with scrunched up newspaper, not coloured ink though. It really does work and afterwards you can throw the paper in the recycle bin.

I really liked all the window cleaning recipes…actually used #1 today and the windows looked great. The newspaper idea didn’t work for me though because even though the ink wasn’t colored it left black on my hands. Paper towels and cotton rags worked. Thanks.

Newspapers have to be old newspapers and not new. The ink needs to be dry (The Wall Street Journal I find to be the best to use). I was told to use old news papers by glass installers–makes a big difference

Newsapaper is not a good option these days as the black ink does rub off. I found tissue paper works really well and does not leave the lint fibres.
I usually use the white tissue paper left over from gifts.

Any homemade window cleaner is better than store bought. My tip is to use a COFFEE FILTER for cleaning windows it has just enough abrasiveness and NEVER leaves streaks or those annoying little fabric dusties! Works wonderful on mirrors too! TIPNUT ROCKS!

Homemade cleaner is GREAT – I have use, for years BUT I would NEVER use newspapers, coffee filters or even Kleenex to wipe glass They are all wood base byproduct and leave very fine scratches Over time, damage done.
Instead use old cotton T shirts laundry WITHOUT fabric softener rinsed in vinegar

Yes…newspaper is recyling something you already have…but if it is messy and can scratch your windows up over time…certainly everyone has old Cotton T-Shirts around as well…is not that also recycling you already have??

Auto window-glass cleaning
I recommend against using ammonia because of eye hazard.
I used a home-brew, containing ammonia, and a droplet splashed in my eye.
(I wasn’t wearing eye protection) resulting in a costly trip to my ophthalmologist.

I find that commercial brands leave a film on car window glass so I use 50% alchohol and 50% distilled water.
The alcohol cuts through any film and the distilled water prevents spotting.
I spray it on, use a paper towel to rub the glass and pickup the dirt and then quickly use an old soft T-shirt for final cleaning

does anyone have any suggestions for calcium deposits that end up on the outside windows? Besides scrapping with a razor blade (very time consuming) I can’t find anything that works. Thanks for any tips you may be able to give me.

Recipe #1 works great! I have been using a similar recipe for years and it is a great multi purpose cleaner. It works at cutting grease in the kitchen too. I make this up and use it to clean the bathroom, kitchen and windows.

I just finished de-greasing all of our cabinets. I use Easy-Off no-fumes oven cleaner. Just spray on sponge, wipe, and rinse. Or you can take the doors off, take them to the bathroom, and spray them directly. But don’t leave on too long. It will take off the varnish of your doors. I know Easy-Off is not good, but I found it to be the only thing that really works on just about everything with minimal effort.

The best thing for cleaning eye glasses is a drop of dish soap in @ 2 cups of water. Swish them in the solution and a little rubbing with your fingers. Use a soft all cotton dish towel to dry (do NOT use a terry towel). I use to be an optician and nothing has ever beaten this for preserving coatings and keeping clean.

As soon as I read your reply, I filled a 4-cup measuring cup to the 2-cup level w/water and a drop of dish soap, submerged my glasses and rubbed the glass AND frames and nose clips. Cleaning the rest of the frames should be included since they accumulate oils and grime from everyday wear. They feel as new as when I received them years ago! Thanks for the tip!

What Wendy says is correct. Not many people know it, but the Atomic Bomb “Little Boy” that was dropped on Hiroshima Japan, was composed entirely of chlorine bleach and ammonia. Not only did it level the city, but any glass left after the blast was squeaky clean.

Ammonia is only poisonous when mixed with certain chemicals..bleach. Also the smell of either Ammonia or vinegar dissapates quickly and leaves no odor. Vinegar is a wonderful cleaner around the house…repels ants, cleans garbage disposal, great in laundry…and cheap! Plus, your family will think you’ve canned all day when you clean!

I believe you are correct: For animal accidents (cat/dog vomit or potty stains on carpeting). I use a recipe of 1 part ammonia, 1 part vinegar and 1 part dish soap, all placed in separate bottles. After removing debris first, dab initial moisture w/a white paper towel from area. Use soapy water first, dab up moisture, ammonia second (otherwise the animal will be drawn back to that spot), and then the vinegar last. No stain and no odor left behind.
Carolyn

I just brew up a pot of tea when i clean my windows and mirrors. The tannic acid makes it virtually streak free cleaning. This is also great for polishing metal sinks and faucets. I just brew plain non-flavored tea and add a few drops of my favorite scented dish liquid, and I always save out a cup of tea before adding dish liquid. That way when all the glass and fixtures are done I can sit back and enjoy a lil me-time tea break. Happy cleaning all. 🙂

Brewed tea (I use the cheapest brands)is also great to clean hard wood floors. They come out clean and shiny and scratches aren’t noticeable. I just throw a big handful into a pot and boil them up strong. Pour the liquid into the mop bucket and add water.

I too, have been using a recipe similar to recipe #1 for years. I use a peppermint-scented liquid Castile soap (found in a health food store) in place of the dishsoap. It leaves a wonderful scent! I mix large batches, divide it up into several spray bottles purchased at a hair salon supply & place one in the kitchen & every bathroom. This is my favorite all-purpose cleaner. Even my teens love using it!

– The juice from 2 Key limes (have used a regular lime too, but key limes seem to work better for some reason, might be a bit higher mineral content)

Wipe on generously with washcloth, this is good for spots too if needed, use the right size squeegee for the job to wipe dry. Use second washcloth dry to dry off water runoff from squeegee on sinks and window sills.
Natural made washcloths are best and the oil from the lime peels have other uses such as for other cleaners, other washcloths have dyes in them that might not mean much to you but consider this if the whole world is throwing those dyes into the water system? newspapers have toxic ink in them that contaminates environment and are probably not the best answer either unless you know your publication is using environmentally friendly ink. There can be no excuses because I have even seen natural washcloths in a walmart supercenter.

On a side note if your handy or know someone handy, old squeegees can be turned into door stops or something else useful.

Thanks everyone for the wonderful recipes. Very interesting and I knew that there were alternatives to those harsh chemicals that are promoted by the huge corporate companies.
We need to get back to the ‘home’ recipes of the 1940’s and 1950’s! Simplifying and protecting our families and the environment, too!

I use 1 part alcohol to 3 parts water and put in a spray bottle. I use it to clean windows, mirrors and car windows. Doesn’t streak. Just gets them squeky clean. I spray the window and wipe off with a paper towel. Especially great during the winter months because it doesn’t freeze on the window.

You can add any food color to these for a great color,lavender etc.
The zep window cleaner at Home depot has a lot of alcohol in it like recipe #1.
I’ve been using it for years ,I love it for everything,bathroom sinks,counter tops etc.alchol is a disenfetant.I am ecstatic to find a home made recipe with alcohol in it.

We just hand new replacement windows installed and the installers said not to use amonia products on the replacement windows. Vinegar and water work well or if you choose to buy a cleaner they do have “amonia free” glass cleaners.

Some of the above recipes above call for “cornstarch.” Does anybody know why? I do – and it’s well worth checking into. The best window cleaners have a surfactant in them. A surfactand is also known as a “Surface-active Agent, Wetter, or Wetting Agent.”

A surfactant is a chemical agent (in this case, corn starch) which is capable of reducing the surface tension of a liquid in which it is dissolved. By lowering this surfacte tension between two media (like glass and dirt)the surfactant plays a key role in the removal and suspension of dirt. The lower surface tension of the water makes it easier to lift dirt and grease off of dirty windows, mirrors, windshields, dishes, glasswear, eyeglasses and other immersable class items.

The surfactant molecules surround the stain particles on your windows (or any glass object), break them up and force them away from the surface of the glass.

The BONUS: A glass item coated with a mixture including a surfactant, becomes more resistent to accumulating new “dirt” and you’ll probably have to wash your glass less frequently.

I know this post is probably too scientific for TIPNUT, but when I first starting using homemade window washing solutions, I couldn’t figure out why anyone would EVER PUT A BAKING ITEM into the solution. To prove these contributors were nuts, I tried it. I COULDN’T BELIEVE THE DIFFERENCES – these contributors weren’t nuts THEY WERE GENIUSES.

I can see no reason why a small amount of cornstarch (well dissolved) couldn’t be added to any of the above recipes – they all have great natural ingredients!!

Happy Surface Tension Reducing (wouldn’t it be fun when the kids return from school and ask, “Well, Mom what’s new?” “Oh nothing much. I spent an hour or so reducing the surface tension in this home – that’s about it.” Then wait for a response – if they are ignoring you, they’ll say, “That’s nice.” If they are listening, you get one of the following responses, “You did WHAT?” or “Wow, Mom I know I haven’t been helping out at home like I should be – I had no idea that the tension was so heavy for you. I’ll do better.”

I’m a house cleaner & used all the cleansers & cleaners homemade & store bought & the best thing for windows & mirrors is the old fashioned chamois leather.

Pre-soak the chamois & rinse a few times b4 use wait ’til the waters clear, then with a bucket of warm water -no cleansers needed- wring out the chamois start @ the corners & work down wash then quickly drying & polishing with cotton toweling or microfiber cloth. no chemicals I clean dozens of windows & mirrors in a week & I would have killed myself if I’d used ammonia,windex, vinegar, etc.

So glad to read this post about plain water. That’s all I ever use — hot water and a sponge, then dry. Works great…ever have any streaks.
I learned this from professional window cleaners that I hired years ago.

I have multiple windows that require a ladder. I am unable to use due to disablility. I presently use a long handled applicator with a window sponge and
luke warm water with Dawn and works well. Its the rinsing off that is a issue.
I am unble to manually wipe off in order to leave spot free and they look terrible. I have Zep’s spot clear that is used in the car wash industry but I have never used and am not sure of how to apply. Need help.

Uh-Yeah…was wondering why nobody said automotive Windshield 20-20 and a squeegee.
Thin it only slightly with water and you have awesome no streak and squeegee dry cleaner for windows, mirrors, windshields, light fixture glass, outside of appliances such a refrigerators, dishwashers, ovens. It’s uses go on and on.

If you read labels, store bought window cleaner IS what you are making. You are saving money, not the earth.

Got this from some cheep professional cleaners,
Use parts:
Alcohol (highest %, least water)
Ammonia (pure)
White Vinegar
I used equal, some play with quantities, some even add water, but how much of the stuff do you use anyway.
Water, soft or hard, but not distilled, dish detergent, lemon juice, lemon ammonia etc., cornstarch soda and many other things leave a residue. If your windows look clean they collect dirt faster and it is harder to wash off.

I don’t use this anymore as I use two micro weave cloths, damp and dry, when the dry one rubs easy and smooth all residue is off the window. A quick buff with one or both and any missed spots are gone. It is even easier to tell which side the spot is on, and you don’t ruin the whole window finding out.

If they are real dirty, a little ammonia water and the hose then the two cloths.

DO NOT, I repeat DO NOT use AMMONIA on WINDOWS with IR REFLECTIVE COATINGS or you will remove the coating.

Please read your warranty cards or go on-line and checkout how to clean your brand of windows. The window brand can be found on the lower right corner of the window sash. It is usually lightly stenciled onto the glass.

I have always used joy dish detergent and water….mixing it up in a bucket just like you would your dishwater, wiping the windows down with this soulution and a terry cloth rag, then go back over with a dry rag. No rinsing, no streaks and what a view!

Any of these solutions will work but what I like to do is put them in a bucket and make sure the water is warm. Then I just use a washcloth to wash down the windows and a hand towel–terry or cotton–to dry them. I never have streaks. I think this method is far superior to spraying window washing solutions on windows. You don’t need a blade either; just a washcloth and towel do the job beautifully!

Do not use ammonia for cleaning windows unless you are POSITIVE that they are single plate glass. Many of the modern, high efficiency windows have either two or three plates of glass in a sandwich. Ammonia will attack the sealant around the window and cause internal fogging and eventually require costly replacement.

use the (blue) Dawn dish soap for your recipe that calls for dish soap. It has degreasing power and is best for windows and other cleaning solutions . I make my own laundry soap also, and almost all home remedies that call for dish soap can use this.

Just did 1 part vinegar/4 parts water/1/2 tsp cornstarch (this is in my near pint spray bottle) & 20 drops lemon essential oil. LOVE IT! Inside cleaning looks good. Now I’m on to the outside for the big test. Oh, and I use microfiber towels.

The only item I have used to clean windows, both in & out, has been a very fine steel wool – the kind used for fine sanding wood. Have used this for years with very little elbow grease & absolutely no scratching of windows or mirrors. Just a dusting of window ledge after the fact was needed,,

I just used white vinegar water rubbing alcohol and a little bit of orange extract ( for scent) and yay it got the toothpaste my children can never seem too keep off the bathroom mirror removed with no streaks

We use borehole water on the lawn which is very rich in iron.
When it comes in contact with the windows, it leaves a browninsh stain and it is a struggle to get it off.
I have tried the vinegar, lemon juice and I bought window cleaners, but nothing helps!!
Any suggestions?

Used dryer sheets are great at getting the scum off shower doors. Just wet them and clean away the gunk.

Also for cleaning the outside of windows that are too high, although not homemade, I have used dishwasher detergent in the sprayer hooked to the hose. Spray it on and let it soak for a couple of minutes then rinse. They are formulated to dry without spotting and streaking.

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